Back support



S. H. GALLOP June 25, 1935.

BACK SUPPORT Filed Oct.28, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 25, 1935. s. H.GALLOP 2,005,972

BACK SUPPORT Filed Oct. 28, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 5/0A/E/6469;142/

z/Maw ATTORNEYS Patented June 25, 1935 PATENT OFFICE BACK SUPPORT SidneyHerbert Gallop, Cumbcrless, Ember Lane,

Esher, England Application October 28, 1933, Serial No. 695,585 In GreatBritain November 22, 1932 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a back support or device to aid sitting inbed, on the floor, or on the ground or on any other similar supportingsurface and which is especially applicable for use at picnics, on thebeach, and in bed.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readilycarried into practice, I have appended hereto two sheets of drawingsillustrating the same, wherein:--

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of device constructed inaccordance with this invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same device in use, j

Figure 3 is a. perspective view of a modified form of device accordingto this invention,

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the same,

Figure 5 is a perspective View of a further modified form of deviceaccording to this invention,

Figure 6 shows a waterproof strip applied to a device according to thisinvention,

Figure 7 shows a further slightly modified device according to thisinvention.

Figure 8 shows the same device in'cross section and folded.

The device shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5 of the drawings comprises asubstantially L shaped or bent lever member of open or frame-like formand having two limbs at an angle to one another rather greater thanninety degrees.

device is made from a single length of steel tube bent at right anglesat four places i, i, 3 and 4 and having its ends permanently joinedtogether. In this way a frame is formed which has two parallel spacedends or cross bars marked respectively 5 and 6 and two parallel spacedside members marked respectively I and E. The side members are each bentat 9 to a substantially L shaped form, the angle included between thearms of each side member (and consequently between the limbs) being anobtuse one. The bends 9 are not sharp and may be of, say, five or sixinches or more in radius, and these curves are in planes transverse tothe planes containing the bends l, 2, 3 and 4.

The normal position for the device is somewhat as indicated in Figure 2of the drawings with the curved parts 9 of the side members of thedevice tresting on the supporting surface (bed, floor, ground or thelike) on which the device is being used, the said curved parts forming afulcrum or rockers for the device.

Opposite ends of the side members 7 and 8 may be cranked at l0 and H asshown so asto bring the cross members 5 and 6 respectively behind andbelow the planes containing the upstanding and substantially horizontallimbs of the device.

At a suitable distance from the cross bar 5 the device is provided witha back engaging strip {2 whilst at a distance from the cross bar :3 thedevice is similarly provided with a thigh or leg engaging strip 23. Thestrips l2 and is may be, and preferably are, formed of sheet metal, butthe strips may be made of fabric, cane or other suitable material. Thestrips may be secured to the side members i and 8 in any suitablemanner, for example if the strips are of metal then they may be spotwelded to the frame. Alternatively the strips may be adjustably mountedon the frame.

By cranking the side members at In and I l, as previously explained, thecross members 5 and 6 lie behind and below the strips i2 and i3respectively and so the latter engage directly the back and undersidesof the thighs or, legs of a user of the device. The cross bars 5 and Bwhilst strengthening the device need not contact with the user of thelatter.

The device illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings comprises twoseparately formed side members M and I5 similar to the side members iand 8 and formed from metal tubes, the ends of these tubes being closedby caps 16. The side members H5 and iii are secured together in spacedrelationship by two cross strips, 2. back supporting strip I? and athigh engaging strip I8, each of which is formed from a strip of sheetmetal having a beaded or wired edge for reinforcement purposes andslightly curved longitudinally, the ends of the strips or the cornersonly of the latter being welded to the side members l4 and i5. In thisconstruction the strips I! and I8 form the sole connections between theside members l4 and I5.

The device illustrated in Figure 5 is similar to that illustrated inFigures 1 and 2 except that the strips I2 and it of'the latterconstruction are replaced by fabric or upholstered strips l9 having avertical metal bar it sewn into each end, such strips being disposedbetween the side members l and 8 and connected thereto by tensioningscrews 2i passing through the side members and screwing into the bars28. Preferably the heads of the screws. M are countersunk into the sidemembers I and 8. The stretching screws at one end of the strips may beomitted and replaced by hooks or other suitable anchorage means,

Conveniently the arms of the side members are equal in'length so thatthe device is symmetrical about a given point whereby the device isreversible end for end and can be used either way round, 1. e. witheither end projecting upwardly.

A person using a device such as is shown in Figures 1 to 6 of thedrawings sits through it and on the supporting surface upon which thedevice rests somewhat as shown in Figure 2, and the weight of the saidperson is not in this case taken by the device but by the saidsupporting surface. The user of the device leans with his back againstthe strip I2, I! or ill, and the backward force so set up is transmittedthrough the side members I and 8 or I l and i5, which act as rigidtransmission members, to the strip l3, it or one similar to the stripl9, and the force is counteracted by the downward force exerted by theusers thighsor legs on the strip with which they engage, so that thedevice remains in a state of equilibrium and its user can sitcomfortably, being adequately supported by the device.

At the same time the weight thrown on the buttocks resting on the groundor other supporting surface is very appreciably reduced by reason of thebalanced support afforded by the said cross members. Also the strainnormally taken by the abdominal muscles when a person is in a sittingposition is considerably reduced when using a device according to thisinvention.

By simply sliding the device forwardly or rearwardly a user thereof canadjust the fulcrum of the device relative to his body and so modify thetilt of the device and his position to a more reclining or to a moreerect one as desired.

In Figure 6 is illustrated an example of a protection sheet comprising astrip 22 of waterproof flexible material having an inverted pocket 23 atone end into which one end of the back supporting device may be insertedso that the strip 22 depends between the side members of the devicewhereby a person using the latter can sit on the waterproof strip and beprotected from damp ground or whereby a users clothes can be protectedfrom soiling. Press stud or other suitable fastening means may beprovided for securing the waterproof strip to the device and the stripmay be adapted to roll up and means may be provided to secure it in therolled up position.

Even though a person sat on said protection strip shown in Figure 6 hewould still be sitting on the supporting surface on which the backsupporting device is resting and not on the device itself.

When not in use to aid sitting, the device may be inverted and employedas a cage to maintain bed clothes raised away from an injured limb, forexample an injured leg or foot.

Figures 7 and 8 show a further slightly modified device comprising sidemembers each formed in two parts 28, 29 hinged together at 3!) so as tobe foldable, these side members being connected together by metal rodsor tubes 3i and 32 on which are pivotally mounted resilient back andthigh or leg rests 33 and 34 respectively which automatically assume themost suitable position when the device is in use. This device isintended for a person to sit through it. A wooden or other suitableshield 35 slidden between the parts 29, 29 in grooves in the inner sidethereof and which shield is provided with a hand hole to enable thedevice readily to be carried when folded as shown in Figure 8. Theshield is primarily intended to be withdrawn and laid on the ground andto be sat on through the device when the latter is in use. If not laidon the ground as a protective device the shield can be used for a trayor portable table. The device is provided with a fulcrum or rocker part36 between the ends of its side members somewhat as in the devicesdescribed with reference to Figures 1 to 6 whereby the benefits of theseconstructions are obtained. Foldable chains or stays 31 are preferablyprovided in this construction to take some of the strain off the hingesBil.

It is, of course, not absolutely essential to make the side members of Lshape but this is a simple form which is preferably adopted.

It will be realized that a device according to this invention is verysimple, relatively inexpensive, and has a great many applications. Forinstance it can be used on the beach, on the river bank for instancewhilst angling, on the floor of a sitting or other room, on the bed, andso forth. Furthermore the device is compact and can, especially whenfoldable, be stored in small space and can be taken about in motor carswithout inconvenience and can be carried by hand from place to placewithout inconvenience. Also the device gives a low sitting position andenables a user to occupy the position giving him a maximum comfort andsupport by virtue of the state of equilibrium that can be obtained bythe user suitably disposing the fulcrum of the device relative to hisbody.

What I claim is:-

1. A device for aiding sitting in bed, on the ground or floor, or on alike supporting surface, and adapted to be sat through, comprising an Lshaped open frame, the upstanding part of which is foldable on to theforwardly extending part thereof, such forwardly and upwardly extendingparts of the said frame each having at its outer end a strip like crossmember pivotally mounted in the frame, and the frame being completelyopen when in use between the said cross members, and the side members ofthe frame having between their ends curved parts adapted to act asfulcrums for the frame and to rest on the said supporting surface. I

2. A device for aiding sitting in bed, on the ground or floor, or on alike supporting surface, and adapted to be sat through, comprising an Lshaped open frame, the upstanding part of which is foldable on to theforwardly extending part thereof, such forwardly and upwardly extendingparts of the said frame each having at its outer end a strip like crossmember pivotally mounted in the frame, and the forwardly extendingportions of the said members of the frame having grooves in which isslidably and removably mounted a protection screen adapted to be removedfrom the frame and laid upon the said supporting surface when the deviceis in use.

3. A legless device to aid in sitting in bed, on the floor or ground orlike supporting surface, such device comprising a frame consisting oftwo spaced side members of approximately L-shape, the upwardly extendingpair and the forwardly extending pair of legs of said L members beingrespectively connected together and being provided with transverse crossmembers forming respectively a thigh or leg engaging member and a backrest member, the back rest and thigh engaging members being spacedsubstantially away from the point of connection of said legs of said Lmembers and said side memers at the point of connection between theupwardly and forwardly extending legs, each being provided with a curvedrocker portion of substantial radius as compared to the length of thelegs of the L members, whereby the device may be rolled over thesupporting surface with an increase of the lever arm of thefirst-mentioned cross member and a decrease in lever arm of thesecond-mentioned cross member when the back rest member is movedrearwardly and the reverse when the back rest member is moved forwardly,and said frame being completely open between said cross bars and saidside members so that a person can sit through the bottom and backportions of the device directly onto the supporting surface on which thedevice rests.

4. The construction of claim 3 in which the pair of upwardly extendinglegs and the pair of forwardly extending legs of the L shaped membersare connected to each other by a butt hinged connection providedadjacent the curved rocker portions, said pairs of upwardly andforwardly extending legs respectively, being only unfold able to alimited degree.

